The National tribune., 1887-09-15
OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
Replies to Questions on a Variety or Interesting
Suhiacts.


Replies to Questions on Variety OF Interesting
Subjects
ITO Coryespoudenks-Wrtea questions on n sep-
arate sheet of paper, give full name and address,
and mark il Correspondents Column" No atten-
ton will be paid to communications that are not
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reply to their inquiries. Postal cards will be
replied to by mail only Replies by mail will Ord-
narily be made within a week, and if in this coll
umn within three weeks.l
M H. L. Freeport Pal. What soldiers does the
act of July 2s, 1866, include: q Are the soldiers
who enlisted between July -. 1851 and were mus
tered before Aug g. 1861 entitled to benefits of acts
July % 1866, and April %, 1872. which would be
sl00 from each? 8. Are the threemOnths men who
enlisted in 1861 entitled to bounty under act of
April -, 1872? 4. Please publish the different
bounty acts. AnslCer. L. The act OF July %, 1866,
applies to all soldiers who enlisted for two OF three
years. and were honOTably discharged after having
served two years more. Itapplies To no soldiers
who served less than two years, except such
as were discharged for wounds. 2. Soldiers who
enlisted for three years prior to July rs 1861 and
were mustered before Aug 8, 1861 were entitled to
the benefit of the acts of April % 1872 and July 28
1866; provided in the latter they served two
years or more. otherwise they would not be bene-
fitted. 3. Soldiers who enlisted for three months
are not entitled to any bounty. none having been
provided. 4. It would take too much space in our
columns TO print the various bounty acts, as they
are very numerous.
=, Memphis. Mo.-A soldier serves in the Con
federate army. and afterward in the Federal army;
If soldier contracted his disability while serving in
the Union army. His service in the Federal army
wiped out the stain of disloyaty in the former
service so far as the pension laws are concerned.
@. T., hegadin, Mich-l. When did the bounty
act of April %. 1872, become q law? 2 Were those
who enlisted in the navy entitled thereto? AnSwer.
l. 1t became q law from April p, 1872. 2. No.
Bounty was not provided for enlistments in the
navy prior to July. 1864.
@. G. d., Rock Island, M.-Can n soldier who
served four years in the war make final proof on
homestead, his family not living thereon? AHStger.
Yes, If he makes the required residence and eulti-
walton IN person, and otherwise complies with the
law. and can give good and sufficient reason why
his family does not live upon the settlement with
him,
K, Oakland. caL-1. Neighbor's affidavit in pen
sion claim, account of Onlittng the words, from
personal knowledge" is rejected. When case is
reoPened. can this witness testify and amend his
omissiony :. CAM have re-examinatIon pending
the consideration of this elaiIa? AIlsVer. 1. The
testimony would be of no value if the witnesses
have stated in reply to the letters from the Pension
Office that they had no personal knowledge of the
events and facts to which they had testified. The
Pension Office in every case requires evidence to
be from parties who have personal kaOU'edgs of the
facts, and without such personal knowledge the
testimony is of no value .. You will probably
have to be satisfied with your former examination.
second examination is not usually ordered where
q former examination Is satisfactory, unless more
than year has elapsed since former eXami-
nation. or course there may be special reasons
IN any case DeceSsitating examinations at other
times. No two cases are alike, consequently no
arbitrary rule can be laid down.
H. n. D.. I1uFJOfu, AL. Nan il reopen, anu
how, pension allowance considered insufficient?
2. When may expect a reply to letter sent the
Commissioner about this? Insurer. 1. Claims for
rerating rarely allowed and only i'm cases where
manifest injustice has been done. We cannot say
whether penslOner would succeed in an appl ica-
tion OF the kind or not it depends upon the merits
OF the claim. The claim shOnld be made TO the
Commissioner of Pensions the same as any other
claim. 2. Within a reasonable time. Letters of i'm
portance are usually acted upon and answered very
soon Others wait their turn, which may be a few
weeks
z. B. Nee. South Charleston, O-On what date did
wilson's enlvary enter Macon, Ca? ARS0er.
j. Z. r., Beech Creek PA widow drawing a
pension of sl2 monthly and So for four minor chill
dren. remarTies. Are the children entitled to her
pension in addition to their own? ARsger Yes,
until they are Is years OF age.
ID. III. ", DH BOis, Pa.-Received a sunstroke
while in service in 1868; WAS pensiOEed at SIS per
month for disability arising therefrom. Am now
totally disabled. Am / not entitled to increase Z?
ARSlCer. If your disability has increased since date
when your claim was last acted upon you can ap-
ply for increase, but you will be required TO un-
dergo q medical examination to determine your
right To an increase, and the certificate of the Ex-
ahlning Surgeons Will govern the final result.
\. d. c., ". H-Cana a farm purchased with
pension money be sold to satisfy Judgment? an
srer. Yes. There is nothing in the law which pre-
vents property purchased with pension money
from legal process the same any other property,
except IN one or two States. We believe n local
judge in your State has ruled contrary to the above
but we are not informed whether such decision has
been affirmed on appeal There IS no general law
on the subject.
JMW Upper SanduSEy O-Acting under orders
at Nashville, about March l5 1863 we turned over
our army blankets, except one, and overcoats Re-
ceived no compensation. Are we entitled? AnSt0sr.
1t is quite probable that the clothing properly
accounted for, and that there is no basis of claim
at this late day. However, such claims can be filed
with the Second Auditor of the Treasury from
whom you would probably learn that all pay for
clothing due you was paid you at discharge in
cluding the money value of the clothing turned
over.
~ u ~ E;tad pars;o,, oI,;,,, II ,,... -.
ined by the Board. Recently received requirement
of Commissioner of Pensions for medical testimony
of physician who treated me during service. These
physicians are dead. / treated in hospitals
during that period Have sent affidavits of five
comrades as to my treatment in hospitals. Can
not have access to the records? 4nStUsr The meGi-
| cal testimony called for Is testimony from your
Regmental Surgeon 1t Is not expected that any
claimant can furnish, nor is he called upon 10 do
so. the testimony of Surgeons Of field or other hos
| ptas outside of his own regiment. Such medical
records in existence in the custody of the
Surgeon-Genera of this city, and they referred
/ to by the Commissioner of Pensions in every pen
/ sion claim. The claimant does not have access
thereto nor would he be furnished with any infor-
nation therefrom.
resulting from wounds or disease? ARSCgr. There
Is specified rating. 1t depends upon the report
| ofthe Examining Surgeon. who determines the ex-
i tent of the disability, If any exists.
| q. H.. Alum Bank, Pd.-Is an officer entitled 10
pay from date OF his commission to date of his mus
ter-in-roll? IL so. where can he get said dates
II
ofJune g. 1854, provides for such cases. We cannot
| answer definitely unless know all the facts.
\ Such claims became barred by act Of June 8 1885,
Write to the Adjntant General of the State whence
you were appointed for transcript OF the records
\ A. @. b., JudsORid, 1rk.-Please publish the act
| of March. 1851, granting three mouths extra pay
/ To officers. ARSIUer. There such act of that
| date. There was an act passed March g. ls65.
| granting three months extra pay proper for such
officers were in service continuously from March
3, 1865, to Aprl9. 1863 and were subsequently hon
| ornbly discharged. We have Published that net
about Is different times. IL must be presumed that
all who entitled to said pay received il during
service at least that it included in their final
pay.
| A. j. r., CoateSriiie Mo.-If a pensioner is re-
jected on examination for disability and
/ gets another examination, will his pension be in
creased the old disabilities provided there has
| been an increase of them since his last examina-
/ ton ARssger. Yes, If he fled claim for increase
on old disability. In order to have claim for in
crease any disability considered distinct claim
| therefor must be hled.
| -, Enlisted for three months. Am not en-
/ titled to bounty? ARsger You are not entitled.
No bounty was provided for three months service.
| JC. G.S., Ffsdonid, Kda.-Am pensioned for loss
| of right hand. If die of smallpox would my
wife get pension as the widow of a soldier under
i the present law? AnStCer. No.